Battle of San Mateo (1814) facts for kids
The Battle of San Mateo was an important fight during the Venezuelan War of Independence. This war was about Venezuela becoming free from Spanish rule. The battle happened in 1814.
The Battle of San Mateo
In 1814, many battles took place in the Valleys of Aragua, a region in what is now Venezuela. These fights were between two main groups. One group was the patriots, who wanted Venezuela to be independent. The other group was the royalists, who wanted to stay loyal to the King of Spain.
The main house of the San Mateo estate was very important. This estate belonged to Simón Bolívar, a famous leader of the independence movement. A small group of fifty soldiers, led by a brave soldier named Ricaurte, guarded the house. It was used to store important supplies, especially ammunition.
During the battle, the royalist army attacked. Their commander, Francisco Tomás Morales, managed to take control of most of the estate. They even captured the main house, which held all the ammunition.
After a moment of confusion, Bolívar saw his chance. He quickly led an attack to get the main house back. His soldiers fought hard and managed to regain control of the house. After that, they took back the rest of the estate.
The Battle of San Mateo ended with a victory for the patriots. It was a big win for them. It was later believed that the royalists lost many more soldiers than the patriots during this battle.
